Main menu

Month: March 2017

For the past year I’ve been compiling a list of model train stores for my model railroading website. These shops all look like a lot of fun to visit, but what are the most popular? Here is a list for the states of Virginia and West Virginia.

The most popular model railroading shops (based on online chatter) in Virginia and West Virginia are:

10. Rick’s Hobby Shop in Roanoke, Virginia

9. Chesterfield Hobbies in Midlothian, Virginia

8. Riders Hobby Shop in Sterling, Virginia

7. Whistle Stop Hobbies in Alexandria, Virginia

6. Trains Etc. in Lorton, Virginia

5. Engine House Trains in Virginia Beach, Virginia

4. Main Street Trains in Barboursville, West Virginia

3. KMA Junction in Manassas, Virginia

2. Piper Hobby in Chantilly, Virginia

…and the most popular shop for model trains in Virginia and West Virginia is…

1. Locust Grove Trains in Locust Grove, Virginia

Hobby shops not quite making my top 10 were Awesome RC and Hobbies in Fredericksburg, Virginia; Craftech Hobby Shop in Norfolk, Virginia; Davis Hobby Supplies in Portsmouth, Virginia; Debbies RC World in Chesapeake, Virginia; Dunn’s Toy and Hobby in Manassas, Virginia; Hobby Works in Fairfax, Virginia; Leesburg Hobbies and Collectibles in Leesburg, Virginia; Rail Yard Hobby Shop in Roanoke, Virginia; Staunton Trains and Hobbies in Staunton, Virginia; Train Depot in Manassas, Virginia; Train Town Toy and Hobby in Ashland, Virginia; Walt’s Hobby Shop in Petersburg, Virginia; Cain’s Trains and Hobbies in Bunker Hill, West Virginia; Fountain Hobby Center in Charleston, West Virginia; Kid Country Toys in Charleston, West Virginia; Nitro Hobby and Craft Center in Nitro, West Virginia; Patrick’s Trains in Wheeling, West Virginia; Stephens Outdoor Railways in Vienna, West Virginia; and West Virginia Hobbies and Crafts in Teays, West Virginia.

So, there are lots of great model railroading shops from all over Virginia and West Virginia, but clearly Virginia dominated the list with nine in the top ten. This isn’t too surprising as Virginia is a bigger state with a bigger population and more hobby shops than West Virginia.

When in Virginia and West Virginia be sure to visit some of the excellent railroading museums including Eastern Shore Railway Museum in Parksley, Virginia; Fairfax Station Museum Railroad Museum in Fairfax Station, Virginia; Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia; Princeton Railroad Museum in Princeton, West Virginia; West Virginia Railroad Museum in Elkins, West Virginia; and Williamson Area Railroad Museum in Williamson, West Virginia.

I compiled this list by searching for the hobby shops listed on a number of search engines and ranking them by the number of web pages, discussion forums, photos, videos, etc that are available online. I further screened this list to include only pages that mentioned model railroading.

The luxury of working out at one’s desired timings and at one’s own abode is resulting in rapid rise of use of home gym equipment across the globe. Irrespective of the location or the kinds of gym available at their disposal people are buying the idea of exercising at home itself thus saving them from venturing out of homes. Not only is it comforting to work out at home, it also makes you feel relaxed which in turn helps out your exercising pattern.

Collapsible Home Gym Equipment is Beneficial to Use

This rapid rise in the number of people who have started out to work from home has resulted in increasing sales of collapsible home gym equipment. Collapsible home gym equipment is nothing but portable gym equipment that one can buy and take home and can be conveniently stored. It can fit in very easily under one’s cot or in an almirah which increases its viability of usage. The ease with which it can be stored and taken along makes collapsible home gym equipment convenient and in turn very popular among masses. Not only is it easy to take down but is also as easy to put back again so that people are not discouraged once they have dismantled it after exercising.

While the general advantages of collapsible home gym equipment can be equated to that of regular home gym equipment, the additional benefit is its easy to store factor. It is especially useful for people who may not have spacious homes and still wish to own home gym equipment. Since it is easy to mantle and dismantle, one can make it a habit of using it on a regular basis. This ensures that one is quite regular about his exercise regime and follows it as a daily routine.

Collapsible Home Gym Equipment is Affordable

There are no major variations in prices quoted for collapsible home gym equipment when compared with regular home gym equipment. The point is that the price prices for home gym equipments vary on the basis of the kind of it and the body part it caters to and not on the fact that it is a collapsible home gym equipment or not.

Collapsible home gym equipments are available for complete body exercises and are made to suit all particular requirements for those who wish to workout. Even when it comes to prices collapsible home gym requirements are made for pockets of all kinds just as regular gym equipment just that one needs to define one’s budget. The amount you can spend will get you the equipments of the like.

Of course,preteen models can influence fashion trends.This is because preteen product companies are keen on the huge market segment catering to the needs of the under-adolescents.Often,these young children are the pampered lot of the parents and the grownups are ready to shell out any bucks to feed the whims and fancies of their young ones.The material value of the products,meant for these kids,that you get in the market is much less vis–vis their cost.Indeed, the profit margin in this segment is much higher in comparison with the products intended for other consumers in other age groups.Sensing the immense scope of this segment,consumer products giants are targeting these kids.Footwear varieties and shoes,dress materials and accessories,educational products and even academic institutions and study programmes are all in the product line vying to lure and cash in on the fancies of these little citizens.As such, preteen models are roped in by the consumer brand majors to woo these little customer kings and queens!Inevitably,celebrity preteen models can very well influence the fashion trends of under-teen segment of the consumers.

In resonance with the ever vibrant trends of the preteen products market,both in the developed and developing economies across the global spectrum, the influence of preteen models is all the more precipitating.As never before, young kids are more fashion-savvy and it is a direct index of the growing media exposure of this category.With the ever-widening possibilities of the electronic and print media,the young minds are engrossed by new and novel trends in fashion.This is all the part of the game of product marketing and the influence of preteen models in deciding and devising fashion trends is decisive.

Do you still have the doubt as to whether preteen model portfolios can influence fashion trends or not?Just think for a second. Do you remember your latest buy for your under-teen child?Wasnot that product one that had been endorsed by a celebrity child model or actress/actor?This case alone is enough to vouch for the contention that preteen models can influence fashion trends among kids.Often,while you go for shopping with your child for some of the needs of the young one, the child would be asking for the product endorsed by some preteen model.The influence of the models is so strong that the parents are left with no other choice that to heed the dictates of the childs fancy kindled by the consumer product giants using preteen models.

We are living in the age that is totally driven by style factor. Here, the first impression is determined as the last one, and to make ourselves perfect for the first one, we have to look good from top to bottom without leaving the least visible body part making a wrong impression.

There is a style statement defined for your body, there is a style statement defined for your eyes and there is a style statement defined for your wrist too. The trend of sporting designer watches is surging in the current scenario and we love to shop for the same without caring about the expenses. Today we relate watches with an elegant and classy look and consider ourselves as the first one to capture this vogue. However, the true side shows that the urge for making a wrist fashionable is the following trend for past many years.

In the current fashion scenario, we have the options and can choose a watch according to our personality. However, the last few years, when the watch fad was taking pace, many have managed with the limited options. Talking about the fashion trends about 10 years back, who would have thought that going out with a gold plated watch is a bad idea. The bigwigs of the watch industry like Longines have utilized this opportunity and provided the customers with a broad range of gold colored, regal watches.

Going further in the discussion, a change of mode was discovered after five years. If you take a deep look into your past years, you would know that how much a silver plated watch with a big dial attracted you. Yes, that was the time of watches pieces from Fossil, Tag Heuer etc. We dont say that this phase is nowhere now, but the change of rage which we saw in those years cannot be seen in presently.

So, what is the present condition? Well, we would say its an open status. Yes, we are open to most of the watch categories and even love to create our own trends. Currently, there are a lot of companies marking their success in the market. Here, we can again add Rolex, which is making its customers accomplish their king size desires. However, the trends are not limited to Rolex as the desired sporty look can also be obtained by watches from high end brands like Omega and Casio.

Hence, we can sum up the whole debate by saying that the greed for wrist fashion is not the talk of town for a limited time, but the history also holds strong fashion points for the same, and one can expect these points to grow in a human mind with growing time.

online cigar shop is just the perfect substitute of conventional cigar shop. One can buy cigar on the internet just as easily as from some street shop. Internet provides a platform for all types of buying and selling including consumer goods. Cigar is also a popular consumer good and thus it has been frequently traded on the internet since long. One might have heard of the online cigarette shop that sells e cigarette; online cigar shop serves the same purpose.

To buy cigars online you primarily need to have a computer and an internet connection of course. Secondarily you need to have some online payment option as it is needed for all types of online shopping. Depending on the region or country you live in, you can have a credit card, a paypal account or some other appropriate mean. Some cigar sellers on the internet may also offer cash on delivery option that means buyer has to pay cash when he or she receives his or order at the door step.

If we compare a traditional cigar shop and an online cigar shop then the latter option seems to be more attractive. To buy cigar online provides you with many other options as well. Online cigar sellers normally hold more variety and accessories than the typical cigar sellers. For instance on the internet you can find multiple cigar brands all in one place, these brands vary in process, quality and popularity. One can either buy cigars of his favorite brand or choose according to prices.

Online cigar sellers offer many other related items too such as cigar accessories, pipes, cigar gift boxes, humidors, combo packs etc. cigar accessories include ash trays, air purifies, cigar cases, cigar cutters, lighters and much more. One who logs on to some online cigar selling shop can also shop for the other related items as easily as this; one just needs to select an appropriate selling platform where a proper mix of price and quality is offered. After this one can shop for all of his smoking needs sitting at one place with one click only.

Apart from the various advantages of online cigar shopping, there are some risks involved too; as you cannot check the product on your own you may have to compromise over the products quality and freshness. However the risk xcan be minimized by browsing for a renowned online seller.

Vintage-inspired clothes and trimmings are one of the greatest upcoming fashion trends for 2011. Clothes will have vintage detailing such as dresses with full skirts, and figure-flattering pencil skirts with matching jackets. Cat eye sunglasses will be among the greatest vintage-appeal fashion trends. For a really glamorous look, choose cat eye sunglasses with rhinestone detailing.

Capes are making a recovery and predicted to be a hot fashion trend for 2011. Capes that have faux fur trim will be an especially in demand fashion trend. A cape is a great transitional piece that can be worn over most outfits without adding bulk. Another positive about capes is they are figure-flattering on women of all shapes.

The maxi dress will be an upcoming fashion trend in 2011. This type of dress comes in a variety of styles, colors and fabrics. The maxi dress is the best in femininity, and figure-flattering on most women. This style of dress can worn with boots, heels, sandals or cute flats.

Jackets, shirts, dresses and pants that have military detailing will be a fashion trend for 2011. High collars, rows of buttons and structured clothes with the military detailing is forecasted to still be hot in 2011. A belted military jacket with a pencil skirt is a trendsetting look for 2011.

Thigh-high boots are provocative and comfortable, and an upcoming fashion trend for 2011. This style of boot is made with a low or high heel. The thigh-high boot with a low heel and skinny jeans is a great day look, or wear high heel patent leather thigh-high boots with a dress for a sexy, vixen look.

The cardigan with a twist has updated detailing to make it one of the upcoming fashion trends for 2011. Button detailing, double V-necklines, sequins and sexy prints will make the cardigan one of the most versatile and sought after fashion pieces in 2011.

Animal prints are once again going to be a hot fashion trend for 2011. Clothes, jewelry and accessories that have an animal print are continuously hot. Bring out the wild side by adding a leopard scarf or shoe to an ordinary outfit to make it extraordinary.

Shopping for a baby monitor can be made simpler by doing the 5 simple things mentioned below.

1) Friends and family: If any of your friends or family has young babies, ask them what baby monitor they use and if they would recommend it.

2) Product reviews: Reading product reviews lets you see what other parents experiences are with particular baby monitors. Look out for their opinions on quality, reliability, and the manufacturers customer service and product guarantee.

3) Chat on the forums: Parenting forums can be a really helpful place to learn about anything to do with babies. Other parents will be able to give you advice on choosing a baby monitor, and they may recommend particular brands or models.

4) Ask the advisors: Speaking to advisors in stores who stock baby monitors should surely help you out. They should be able to answer your queries and recommend a baby monitor which suits your requirements.

5) Parenting groups: There are many community centres which hold groups for parents. Basically parents meet up and discuss any questions they have or problems they may be having. You will be able to share your experiences, and learn from others experiences. No doubt that the other parents will be able to tell you if they recommend the baby monitors they are using.

The ideas above should be enough to make sure shopping for a baby monitor is not a massive headache. Here are some things to remember when choosing a baby monitor:

1) Always check the manufacturer offers a good guarantee. This is useful if something happens to the monitor, and you need it fixed or require a replacement.

2) Make sure the model you are going for is recommended by other parents and offers high quality and reliability.

No matter which country you tour, your trip is never complete without purchasing a few articles that are a symbol of the area or any local artifacts etc. Now if you are in Portugal for a vacation you have a huge variety to choose from.

Beautiful hand painted Azulejos or ceramic tiles are a perfect gift to give back home when you return. Every painting on a tile depicts a part of the country and is even packed in such a way that you can safely take it back without breaking it. Portuguese dinnerware is also quite beautiful and of high quality. Most designs on the dinnerware too say a lot about the rich culture and tradition of the country.

Embroidery especially those on traditional table linen should be part of your Portugal shopping list. The unique patterns show the rich tradition and culture and the influences of other cultures too; the chain stitch is the basic form of most embroidery with all variations like barred chain stitch, twisted chain etc. Apart from this French knots, bullion stitch, casalguidi etc. are also widely used.

Wine is a strong part of the country with vineyards existing from the north to the south of the country and each producing a unique distinctive taste of its region. Apart from the well known Port and Madeira there are many other wines that give a unique taste of many small parts of the country like Algarve, Alentejo etc.

Shoes may not be the top items on the list but if you find one that is handmade in Portugal then it is worth buying as the quality and design are sure to be great.

Goat Cheese is another item which you must not forget. The most popular one is “Queijo da serra”, a sheep cheese made in the highest location in Portugal the Serra da Estrela region. The delicious cheese of Azeitao should also not be skipped or even the “serpa” and “cabreiro” for that matter.

In spite of the hot weather, fall clothes have already appeared on many clothing stores. Besides Minimalism (which will remain in vogue), there are various trends to choose from. Now, let’s get a first look at fashion trend of this season!

The style of low neckline has returned again. There is an outline of hourglass on the clothes. With a small calico design, which is a necessary element of patrol style (the most fashionable style at the moment), the outfit can certainly make you look sweet and charming.

Using fresh colors is also a fashion tip this autumn. So, you can wear fresh colors from the head to toe. For example, you can choose the combination of daring light purple dress and pants, or you can choose the combination of rose shirt and red leather pants.

This season, the suits or coats inspired by menswear have become key styles. Matching with a pair of ankle-length pants, it will make you look smart and eye-catching.

In this fall press conference, there is no indication of environmental protection. Furs and artificial furs are used in abundance. Besides the form of fur coat, some furs and artificial furs appear in the form of collage; while some appear in the form of purfle.

Gold is the color of autumn. Gold coat, gold foil printing and gold brocade are all fashionable elements this autumn.

This autumn, designers start to prefer modest but lively semi skirt, whose length is tea length, ankle length or length between the two. It will make you look taller. So, to act as a counteracting force, a pair of low-heeled shoes or flat boots is a good choice for you to match with the Short Dresses.

The overlapping style may make you look like a member of the nomadic people. Wool, cashmere, jean cloth, sweater, semi skirt, blanket, etc. are all elements of this style. Anyway, this season must be a warm season. Well, if you have dreamy clothes, no matter they are of pictures or conception; you can send the pictures to our custom service (), more details and your measurement are also needed. Then they will in your wardrobe and on you.